Fall Vocal, Instrumental Concert Reveals ‘Passion, Dedication, And Discipline’

On a recent Thursday in Warner Theater, all of the music ensembles at Worcester Academy came together to showcase the musical pieces they had practiced in the past two months.  Included were the Jazz Combo, Combined Choruses, Chorus, Orchestra, Hillpoppas, Advanced Chorus, Wind Ensemble, and the Academy Singers.

 

Most of the ensembles were directed by Alan Vaudreuil, instrumental director, who has been teaching music since 1992, and Donald Irving, vocal director, who began teaching music at WA in 1985.

 

Mr. Vaudreuil explains that, “the art and craft of making music is indeed a noble contribution to humanity.”

 

The program started with the Jazz Combo, directed by Mr. Vaudreuil. They opened with Summertime by George Gershwin. Summertime had a strong bassline and the tune was catchy yet airy in parts of the piece. Soloists Jared Smith on trumpet and Roman Serov on guitar both added to the selections beautifully to give the piece a well-blended sound.

 

The Jazz Combo then moved to a '60s piece, Song for My Father by Horace Silver.  Soloists included Nicole Fleming on flute and Maya Yoshikaya on alto saxophone. The last song presented by the Jazz Combo was Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock, another '60s song. The bass instruments shone strongly throughout the composition. The soloists were Brian Quistberg on piano and Caleb Dimenstein on tenor saxophone.

 

The Combined Choruses, directed by Mr. Irving, presented two songs: Non Nobis Domine by William Byrd and Hey, Ho, Nobody Home, which was executed as a traditional round. The Combined Choruses formed a ring around the audience’s seats, encompassing them into the two dynamic songs.

 

The Chorus took to the stage next and stood in a semi-circle. The Chorus sang two songs: Music in the Night by Emily Crocker and Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, an African American Spiritual. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho is a song believed to be written by slaves to tell the biblical story of the Battle of Jericho, but the words also seem to suggest the eventual end of slavery; the words “and the walls come tumbling down” are repeated throughout the composition.

 

The Orchestra presented three songs: Rites of Tamburo by Robert W. Smith, Danse Macabre from Poeme Symphonique op. 40 by Camille Saint-Saëns, and Pavane Op. 50 by Gabriel Fauré.  Danse Macabre translates from the French to “dance of death.”

 

The Hillpoppas performed Pompeii by Bastille; the soloist was Nick Barris.  Dan Sullivan manages the a capella group and its advisor is Suzanne Callis.

 

The Advanced Chorus presented two songs: Hush, Somebody’s Callin’ My Name, an African American Spiritual, and I am the Rose of Sharon by William Billings. Hush, Somebody’s Callin’ My Name had a clear message and simple music, and was accompanied by the singers clapping and moving from side to side. Soloist Lauren Sullivan had a strong voice that kept the composition bold and entertaining.

 

The Wind Ensemble then performed three songs: the theme from “Thus Spake Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss, Chorale: Vigiles Et Sancti (Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones) by Athelstan Riley, and the theme from the Finale of Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven. All three were powerful songs that were well played.